Do what you do but do not talk to strangers

On the day of Estonian birthday I was headed to Belgium. And the trip was wonderful! But I have not yet had a chance to talk about it. Alors, some moments.

*While Estonia had snow above my bellybutton and the temperature was quite frosty, Brussels was warm. So warm that I walked to the grocery store just in a sweater and I was still hot (lol). All these Belgian beers there. And - NO cranberries. Even when I figured out the way to ask in French, they still did not have them. Apparently it is Christmas stuff. C'mon, even Estonia has dried cranberries in the store. It is healthy. Anyway, so we just bought chips for the party.

*Kullionu's son's favourite toy is the one I got him for Christmas. This was the best moment ever!! It is a dog, but he calls it 'Kass' (Cat) or 'Kiisu' (Kitty). Adorable! But he had no idea really, who I was. Oh well.

* Kullionu and Mairis arrived together. We 'lõime end lille' (hit ourselves into a flower meaning we got ready and even prettier) and off we were for the Independence Day Party No 2 (for me). It was organized by the same academic organization, as the one I attended the night before. Just thisone was in Brussels. It was really nice to see the Brussels crowd. But the dancing was much better in Estonia:) And I even had a role of a messenger, bringing the warm Independence Day greetings from their Tallinn counterpart:)

* I was supposed to meet my friend at the Leopold B&B. I thought it was near Kullionu's place, but 10 min before the meeting time it turned out to be in the other end of the town. I called the friend, e-mailed, called the B&B, many times, all that to meet in downtown. No answer. I was 2 hours late and quite angry, once I made it. Apparently the friend left his phone home on purpose. And the B&B guy just forgot the phone when changing the pants. Guys!!!

But the B&B was really charming.

The funny thing was that I had been at that metrostation a few years back, when I was just travelling with a little ladybug:)

* Coffee with Mairis, a warm-up beer, fries and moules, more beer. Walks at night (the daffodils were blossoming), the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Chocolate museum, and more beer. Very cultural and entertaining:)

* Saturday. Beautiful sunny day. Leuven. My first Flamish wedding:) The town looked so cute, but I had to find the church. So no time to walk around. Next time.

The Bride looked gorgeous! Just perfect!! The Groom looked good as well. The ceremony was all in Dutch, but at least they had a little booklet, that had every single word in it. So I was reading:) Dutch is cute in Belgium. I also took photos.

After the ceremony the couple left the church through the flower gates, that her dance group formed on the door. Then they had to saw a log into two and then the dance group (that was dressed like people dressed during 18th century, and the group had been together for 20 years. The bride had been part of it since the very beginning).

Followed some downtime, and I hanged out with the Brides friends. Then I also found out why I cannot stay the night at the Newlyweds apartment, as originally planned. Apparently the old tradition says that the apartment is being "treated". One couple had their bedroom locked, and the key was in a iceblock in a freezer. Our couple had plastic cups filled with water covering the entire floor and wieners in the bathtub and CDs switched (if I understood correctly).

We had dinner at Jitho Bistro in Lennik before the reception. Wonderful place.

The reception started at 8 pm. We entered the house and there was a long line of people, going to greet the couple. On the way we quickly gave the coats away (no chance to change shoes, as apparently I was onlyone who brought the other pair). Congratulated the couple and then moved on the congratulate the parents. I thought that it was what I was supposed to do. But they sort of freaked, due to my English, methinks. So after the first congratulation I just smiled and nodded and moved quickly to the wine. But I still had a problem. Now I was holding a wine glass, my purse, my shoebag and the gift. I had to get rid of something. Ok, shoes to the corner. But the gift? There was no gift table... So I cut the line again (second round) and asked the bride. Apparently I had to give it to her:) I did so quickly and then disappeared into the crowd before seeing the parents for the second round:) And then there were chats and wine and amazingly delicious treats.

At 10 pm we moved upstairs, for beer, and presentation by the friends (the history and the sex ed crash course) and the dancing! At one point I thought that I would like to dance the slow songs, too. I did not know anyone, though. But not to worry, there seemed to be many guys. I asked the Bride's friend, whether I can ask a guy to dance (he said yes) and went. Wow, the attention I got. Thankfully the guy came to dance. I asked about the furor (there were about 10 guys watching and cheering), and it turned out that it is not traditional, that you ask a person whom you do not know, to dance. I was so glad I was (crazy) Estonian. I still wonder - how do they meet there?

But the weddingparty was good, and I left when the lights were turned on. I arrived at Kullionu's at 6 am.

* Kullionu's son woke up early, but Kullionu tried to keep him quiet, saying "Tädi tudub" (Aunt is sleeping). Eventually I got up, we had coffee, and breakfast. It was raining. We ended up staying in all day - just chillaxing. Very, very nice day.

* At 6 pm I headed to the trainstation. Due to extreme weather conditions (the rain) some trains did not go, as the signs said. But I was too slow to think, so the train still arrived just 10 min late, contradicting the sign. In the airport I ran into a good friend from Ottawa. He was going to Riga, too, on the very same plane, and even sitting behind me.

* The best part: the following days Kullionu's son was pointing at the couch, and saying " Tädi Tudu" (aunt sleepy).